Controllable headlight for automobiles.



P. G. ANSPACH. CONTROLLABLE HBADLIGHT FOR AUTOMOBILES.

`APPLICATION FILED JULY 16, 1912.

- Patented N pv. 4, 1913.

Nuvi-mujer? i 2 SHEBTSTSEEET l,

^ /l/l @KV/wm WITNESSES ATTORNEY ...Ez L s y l.

Y'. G. ANSPACH. CONTROLLABLB HEADLIGHT POR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED mme, 1912.

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Spa/(3&4 INVENTOR) n A BY y L3 ATTORNEY UNITED autres rara NT Ormea.

Financia e. Nenner-1, or Beenmerg), mici-Iman. Assrenon or obra-amen 'ro vnaNoR B. CANNON, or nnEaFIELD, MICHIGAN.

GONTRQLLABLE HEADLIGHT FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Specification o1* Letters atcnt.

Application filed July 16, 19l2.

Patented Nov. 4, 1913.

Serial No. 709,763.

To 1H whom t may concern Be it known that I, FuANcis G. ANsrAcH, a citizeii of the United States, residing at Deerfield, in the county of Lenawee and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Controllable Headlight for Automobiles, of which the following is a specititration.

l'The invention relates to an automatic controlling device for automobile headlights.

The object of the present inveition is to improve the construction of devices for automatically turning the headli hts of an automobile as the direction of t e latter is turned, and to provide a simple, inexpensive and practical device of this character of light and compact construction, adapted to be readily a plied to an automobile for turning the hea lights thereof in the same direction and at the same angle as the front wheels of an automobile, and e uipped with means for enablin the headlight turning mechanism to be tirown out of operation and the headlights rigidly secured straight to the front when desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide a headlight controlling device, equipped with means adapted to control the amount of motion transmitted to the headlights, and capable of permitting a limited lost motion for preventing the lateral movement incidentto the slight turning or weaving of the wheels from being transmitted to the headlights and producing a swaying of the same from side to side.

The invention also has for its object to provide means for holding the headlights straight to the front until there is suiiiclent lateral movement of the front wheels to cause a positive turn or change in the direction of movement of the automobile.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended: it being understod that various changes in the fornnproportion, size and minor details of construction. within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without de artin from the spirit orsacrificing any c lthe a vantages of the invention.

ln the drawings':.-Figure 1 is a perspectivel view of an automatic headlight oontrolling device, constructed in accordance with this invention and shown applied to an automobile. Fig. 2 is an enlarged central longitudinal sectional view of the actuating mechanism, Fi 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the actuating mechamsm. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view, illustrating the construction for supporting and pivoting the headlights. Fig. 6 is a detail horizontal sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a similar view on the line 7-7 of Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is a perspective View, illustrating another form of supporting bracket.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in yall the figures of the drawings.

ln the' accompanying drawings in which is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention, 1 designates an approximately cylindrical casing divided horizontally into up er `-and lower sections and provided at tieir meeting edges with lateral extending attaching flanges 2, which are secured together by bolts 3, or other suitable fastening devices, The casing, which may be constructed of any suitable material, is arranged at the rearface of the front axle 3 of an automobile or other motor vehicle, and its front portion 4 is designed to be enlarged to fit the rear groove or channel of the axle 3, when the latter is of such formation, but the casing may be of any desired form, as will be readily understood,- and it is provided at the top with spaced forwardly projecting arms 5, curved to lit the top of the front axle 3a and provided with substantially hook-shaped ,terminals 6, which enga e under the top portion of the axle 3 at t e lfront thereof, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The enlargd portion 4 of the casing has a horizontal top face and supports wedges 7, engaging under the top'portion of the axle 3 at the back thereof and operated by adjusting screws 8, engaging threaded erforations of the arms ,5 and equipped wit. lock nuts 9. The arms and the adjustable wedges form clamps and ri idly secure the casing 1 at the rear side of t efront axle. By locating the casing at the back of the front axle, it is arranged out of the way of the p arts carried bythe auto obiie body, and there is no liability of suc parts coming in contact with the casing in the vertical nieve- Mii ment of the body incidentto the cushioning action of the supporting springs.

The lower section of the casing 1 is provided with a central vertical pivot post l0, extending upwardly from the bottom of the casing and terminating short of the top thereof, and forming a journal or pivot for a horizontal beveled gear 11, provided with a vertical tubular stem 12, which extends upwardly through a central opening 18 in the top of the casing. The horizontal beveled gear meshes with vertical beveled pinions 14, located at opposite sides of the casing and connected by flexible shafts 15 with headlights or lamps 16. The horizontal beveled gear has a central openin and the lower portion of the bore or opening of the tubular stein is smooth to fit the pivot post while the upper portion is provided with interior screw threads 17 engaged by a cap screw 18 having an enlarged head projecting horizontally beyond the .upper end of the tubular stem for confining an inner or front enlarged end 19 of an oscillatory arm 2() on the upper portion of the tubular stem. "he cap screw, which is provided in its upper face with a groove to receive the blade of a screw driver, is adapted to be rotated to raise and lower the horizontal beveledgear to carry the same into and out of mesh with the beveled pinions 14, which lfacili-I tate accurately assembling of the parts and proper alincment of the headlights, as the horizontal beveled gear is adapted to remain out of mesh vwith the beveled pinions until the headlights and the other parts of the device are assembled and proper position after which the horizontal beveledgear is raised into mesh with the pinions 14.

The horizontal oscillatory arm 20, which extends rearwardly from the top of the casing, is provided in its enlarged inner or ront end with a circular opening 21 to tit the upper portion of the tubular stein 12, and it is provided at the bottom of the opening with an annular recess or counter-- bore 22 into which extends a vertical annular flange 23 of the casing. The Harige 23, which surrounds the opening 13, forms a relatively fixed bearing for the oscillatory arm 20. The arm 20 is provided in its rear portion witha longitudinal slot 24 in which operates a vertical pin 25, secured at the lower end by I to. a transverse connecting rod 27. The transverse rod 27, which is of the usual construction, is connected with the arms 28 of spindles 29 of the front axle, and adapted to be shifted in the ordinary manner to turn the spindles in their pivots 30 for changing the direction of thezautomobile. The movement of the connecting rod 27 laterally of the machine oscillates the arm 20 and actuates the horizontal beveled gear, motion arranged in a sectional clamp or collar 26 i l being communicated therefrom through the beveled pinions aiid the flexible shafts to the headlights for turning the same in the-v saine direction as the wheels. The collar or clamp 26 is composed of upper and lower sections having outwardly bent terminals secured together bv bolts 31, but any other suitable means may be employed for mountin the vertical pin 25 on the laterally shiftble connecting rod of the steering mechanism. A

Beveled gearing` is employed for rotating the flexible shafts, and the beveled pinions are of less diameter than the beveled gear` but any other suitable gearing may, of course, be employed for this purpose.

In order to cause the headlights to turn to the same extent or angle as the wheels, the oscillatory arm and the tubular stem motion device comprising an adjustable screw 32, mounted in a horizontal opening 33 iii the oscillatory atm at a. point in rear of the tubular stem and coacting with a polygonal portion thereof having tlat central and side Vfaces 34 and 35. The oscillatory arm is provided adjacent to its front or pivoted end with an upward bend 36 to clear the screw 32, and the opening 33 is threaded to engage the screw. The faces 3l and 35, of the polygonal portion are vertical, and the side faces 35 are arranged at an angle to `the central tace 34. The inner end 37 of theV screw 32 is tapered or rounded. and is adapted to he arranged in different positions with relation to the central and side faces ot the polygonal portion of the stem of the horizontal beveled gear to per-` inita limited movement of the oscillatory arm independently of the horizontal beveled gear and also to enable the device to be thrown out of operation when it is desired to maintain the headlights rigidly in their normal position. When the screw 32 is moved outwardly and its tapered end is carried outwardly beyond the path of the faces of the polygonal portion of the vertical stem of the horizontal gear 11, the arm 20 is adapted to oscillate without imparting,r rotary movement to the said gear, and the headlights will remain in their stationary position with relation to the supporting means. The screw is also adapted to be adjusted to permit just sufficient independent movement ot' the oscillatory arm to compensate foi the differences in the diameter of the gears, so that the headlights will be tui-ned to the same angle as the front wheels. This lost motion also permits the slight [turning or weaving of the wheels, while the machine is traveling in practically a straiglit line, without. transmitting such 5 weaving motion to the headlights and cans| i ing a swaying or vibration of the same. The amount of lost motion may be varied by linmean adjusting the screw inwardly and outwardly. n

The beveled pinions 14 are provided with horizontal stems 38, extending outwardly through openings in the sides of the casing, which are provided with laterally projecting tubular' extensions 39, forming extended bearings and providing abutments for fixed collars or ilanges 40 of the stems 38. The tiexible shafts 15, which are suitably secured to the stems 38, are arranged within flexible tubes 41, which are connected with the tubular portions 59 of the casing 1 by cutl's 42 fitted on and suitably secured to the tubular extensionsI 39 of the casing and having reduced portions, which are connected with the adjacent ends of the flexible tubes 41.

Theother ends of the flexible shafts are suitably secured to the lower ends of the vertical pivots 43 of lamp brackets 44 mounted in bearing openings i5 of supporting brackets 46. The supporting brackets 46 consist of a vertical stem body portion provided at its upper end with a horizontal arm or portion having the stem or body portion is provided with an attaching shank 4T, threaded at its lower end to receive a nut 48 and provided at thc top with a collar or flange 49, forming a shoulder to fit against the part y5() on which the bracket 46 is mounted. The bracket may be mounted on any lixed portion of the automobile, and the upper portion of the attaching shank is pretferably squared to tit a squared opening in the said part 5t), whereby the bracket is maintained in a` fixed position with-relation to the body of the automobile. The supporting bracket is also provided at the bearing opening 4:5 with .a depending exteriorly threaded annular flange 51 to which is connected an interi0rl-y threaded cuf 52, constituting an en larged metallic extension of the adjacent end of the flexible tube 4:1 and having a reduced portion suitabl secured to the same. The pivot 43, W ich extends downwardly through the bearing opening 45 from the base 53 of the lamp bracket, is held against vertical movement therein by means of a nut. 54, engaging a threaded portion of the pivot 4:3 and fitting against the lower edge of the depending annular fiange 5l.

The supporting bracket is provided at the top of the opening 15 with an upwardly ex tending annular tlange 55, provided at thc front with a recess 56 and at the back with a notch. or indentation 57. The lamp bracket base 53, which rests upon the upper face of the bearing portion of the support ing bracket, is provided with an annulaigroove or recess 58., which receives the upwardly extending flange 55. The fro-nt re.- cess 55, which 4is substantially rectangular in horizontal section, has parallel vertical walls, and is adapted to be engaged by a reduced terminal portion 59 ot a screw 60 mounted in a threaded horizontal opening 61 in the front portion of the base of the lamp bracket and adapted when screwed into engagement with the recess 55 of the flange of the bearing bracket to maintain the lamp bracket rigid therewith. When the screw Gt) withdrawn from engagement with the recess` 5.3 of the supporting bracket, the latter is frce to rotate in the bearingr openingl l5 of the supporting bracket.

The rear recess or indentation 57 is tapered to present inclined or beveled faces to a tapered engaging end of a spring actuated pawl 62, consisting of a horizontal pin mounted in a bore or opening 63 of the base of the lamp bracket and engaged by a coiled spring (i4. The coiled spring 64 is interposed between the outer endy of the pawl and a screw plug (i5 engaging interior threads in the outer portion of the bore or opening (t3. The tapered pawl yieldably engages the upwardly extending flange of the supporting bracket and is adapted to hold the bracket and the headlights steady during the slight turning or weaving of the wheels while the machine is traveling in a practically straightwell defined course, and while the tapered adjusting screw is out of positive engagement with the polygonal portion of the vertical stem of the horizontal beveled gear. lVhen, however, the machine is turned, the adjusting screw positively engages one of the vertical faces of the stem of the horizontal beveled gear. and positively actuates the same and correspondingly rotates the lamp brackets carrying the beveled end ol the pawls and the beveled or inclined faces of the notches or indentations 56 permitting such turning movement of the lamp brackets. As soon as the lamp brackets are returned to their normal straight. ahead position. the spring actuated pawls automatically engage the notches or indentations 5G and maintain the lamp brackets in such position until they` are again positively actuated by thc steering mrclninism of the machine.

The lamp bracket is equipped with spaced upwardly extending arms 66 for supporting the lamps or headlights 16 in the usual manner. The supporting bracket 46 is adapted to be subst1tuted for the ordinary lamp bracket, but. the device may be ap- 'i plied to a machine equipped with ordinary lamp brackets by means of a sup orting bracket 67. The supporting brac et V6i', which has a bearing portion 68 at the bottom thereof. consists of a air of upwardly diverging arms connectedp at their lower ends tothe bearing portion 68 and provided at their upper ends with sleeves 69 to tit over the supporting arms of the ordinary lamp bracket. The supporting bracket 67 is img an opening receiving the said stem,

equipped at its upper end with clamping screws 70, mounted in threaded pcrforations of the sleeves 69 and adapted to secure the same rigidlyT to the arms of an ordinary lamp bracket.

.1. An automatic headlight controlling device including spaced pivotally mounted headlights, centrally arranged gearing, .l means for transmitting motion from the,I gearing to the headlights. and means for connecting the gearing with the steeringl mechanism of an automobile, the last-mentioned means having a single lost motion device located at the said central gearing to permit a limited independent movementI of the steering mechanism to prevent the slight turning or weaving ot the Wheels of the machine from being transmitted to either of the headlights.

2. An automatic headlight controlling device including spaced pivotally mounted headlights, centrally located gearing, and .oscillatory arm, means for connecting the latter with the Steering mechanism of an automobile, means for connecting the' arm with the gearing, the latter means having l a single lost motion device located at the Said central gearing to permit independent movement of the arm and adapted to prevent the slight turning or weaving of the wheel from being communicated to either of the headlights and also capable of `permitting the arm to be disconnected from the gearing.

3. An automatic headlight controlling device rcomprising spaced pivotall'v mounted headlights, centrally located gearing including a gear having a stem, means for transmitting motion from the gearing to the headlights an oscillatory arm haring an opening receiving the stem. means carried by the arm and coacting with the stem to permit the arm to have movcnu nt independently of thc said gearing, and means for connecting the oscillatory arm with the steering mechanism of an automobile.

4. .in automatic headlight controlling device comprising pivotally mounted headlights, gearing including an'actuating gear having` a stem provided with a polygonal portion, means tor connecting the gearing with the head lights, an oscillatory arm havmeans 'for connecting the oscillatory arm with the steering mechanism of an automobile, and adjustable means carried by the oscillatory arm and arranged to coact-with the polygonal portion of the stem to permit the arm to have movement independently of the stem.

.3. .-xn automatic headlight controlling device comprising pivotally mounted head-l lights, gearing including a gear having a stem prnvidedwitli a polygonal portionw| an oscillatory arm having an opening roceiving the stem, and a screw mounted on the arm and arranged to coact with thepolygonal portion to actuate the said gear and to permit the arm to have limited movement independently of the gearing, and means for connecting the arm with the steering mechanism of an automobile.

. 6. An automatic headlight 'controlling device comprising pivotally mounted headlight, gearing including a gear having a stem provided with a polygonal portion consisting of a central and side faces, an oscil-y latory arm provided with an opening receiving the stem, and a screw mounted on the oscillatory arm and having a tapered or rounded portion arranged to coact with the polygonal portion of the stem for actuating the gear and to permit independent movement of the arm, and means for connectingrthe oscillatory arm with the steering mechanism of an automobile.

7. An automatic headlight controlling device including pivotallv mounted headlights, a casing, opposite vertical gears arranged Within the casing, a horizontal gear also located Within the casing and having a stem and movable vertically to carry it into and out of mesh with the said gears, an oscillatory arm provided with means 'for operatively connecting it with the stem. means for transmitting motion from the side gears to the headlights, and means for connecting the arm with the steering mechanism of an automobile.

S. AnI automatic headlight controlling dcvice including pivotallvmounted headlights, a casing, spaced vertical gears arranged Within the casing, means .for transmitting motion from the vertical gears to the headlights, a horizontal gear having a threaded stem extending through the casing. an oscillatory arm mounted on thc casing and provided with means for acuatiug the stem, and a screw engaging the threaded portion of the stem and adapted to raise and lower the saine to carry the horizontal gear into and out'of mesh with the vertical gears, and means for connecting thc oscillatory arm with the steering mechanism of an automobile.

9. An automatic headlight controlling device including pivotally mounted headlights. a casing, spaced vertical gears located Within the easing, means for transmitting motion from the vertical gears to the headlights, a horizontal gear having an interiorly threaded stem extending through the top of the casing, an oscillatory arm mounted on the casing and having an opening receiving the stem, a screw engaging the threads of the stem for raising' and lowering the horizontal gear to carry the same into and out of mesh with the vertical gear. said screw having a head retaining the oscillatory arm on the casing, means carried by the arm for connecting it with the stem, and means for connecting the arm with the steeringr mechanism of an automobile.

10. An automatic headlight controlling devicel including pivotally mounted headlights, u casing provided at its bottom with a vertical pivot post, vertical gears mounted within the casing aty opposite sides thereof, means for transmitting motion from the vertical gears to the headlights, a horizontal ear having a tubular stem mounted on the pivot post and extending through the top of the casing, an arm mounted on the casing and provided with means for connecting it with the stem, means for raising and lowering the horizontal gear to carry the same into and out of mesh with'the vertical gears, and means for connecting the oscillatory arm gvith the steering mechanism of an antonioile.

11. An automatic headlight controlling device including pivotally mounted headlights, a casing designed to be located in rear of the front axle of an automobile and provided with a. substantially hook-shaped arm adapted to engage over the front axle, awedge mounted on the casing and reacting with the arm to clamp the axle, means toi adjusting the wedge, gearing housed within the casing, means for connecting the gearing with the steering mechanism of an antoniobile, and means for transmitting motion from the gearing to the headlights.

12. An automatic headlight controlling device including pivotally mounted headlights, gearing, an oscillatory arm, means for connting the oscillatory arm with the steering mechanism of an automobile, means for connecting the arm with the gearing, the latter means having a lost motion device adapted to permit independent movement ot .the arm and capable also ot' throwing the gearing out of operation, means for transmitting motion from the gearing to' the headlights, and means for locking the headlights 1n a fixed position when the gearing is thrown out of operation.

`13. An automatic headlight controlling device including a supporting bracket having a bearing opening and provided thereat with Ibracket and having a pivot extendingl through the bearing oienmg, said lamp bracket being also provi ed with a groove or recess for the projecting angeof the supporting bracket, a spring actuated dog mounted on the 1am bracket at the groove thereof and arrange to engage the notch or indentation and adapted to release the lamp bracket automatically, and means actuated by the steerin mechanism of an automobile and connecte with the pivot of the lamp bracket for turning the latter.

14. An automatic headlight controlling device including a bearing bracket havin a bearing openingl and provided with a gpending flange, a lamp bracket having a pivot mounted in the said bearing opening, a casing provided with a tubular portion, a gear havmg a stem extending lthrough the tubular portion, a flexiblev shaft connected with the stem and Wit-h the .said.pivot, a fiexible tube receiving the said shaft and provided at its ends with cu's Secured, respectively, on the Harige of the supporting bracket and the tubularportion of the casing, and means connected with the steering mechanism of an automobile for actuating the said gear.

15. An automatic headlight controlling device including a supporting bracket having a bearing openin and provided with a depending annular an e, a lamp bracket having a pivot mounte in the openin of the supporting bracket, a nut carri by the pivot and located beneath the flan e, a flexible shaft secured to the pivot, a exible tube having a cuf incasin the nut and sccuredvto the said flange, an means actuated by the steering mechanism of an automobile and connected with the fiexible shaft for turning the same.

In testimony, that I claim. the foregoing my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANCIS G. ANSPACH. vWitnesses:

ALBERT A. GHESMAN, JAMES MANNING. 

